Bunch building spinning mule



July16, 1935. w, RAN ALL 2,008,039

BUNCH BUILDING SPINNING MULE Filed Dec. 5, 1954 2 sheet sneet 1 Fig. 22 2| \nvenTor Joseph W. RundaH WWM&W AiTys.

J y 1935- J. w. RANDALL 2,008,039

BUNCH BUILDING SPINNING MULE Filed Dec. 3, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Q V F192.

33 4 3 'r s 45 Q23? 32 \rive rifor.

for its object the providing of means by which a Patented July 16, 1935 BUNCH.BUILDING SPINNING MULE Joseph W. Randall, North Ando'ver Mass, as-

signor to Davis 85 Furber Machine Company, 1 North Andover, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 3, 1934, Serial No. 755,787 Claims. (Cl. 11s- 2 s This invention relates to the well-known spinning mule employed for spinning variousfibres such as cotton, woolen, worsted, flax, rayon or other fibres commonly spun on a mule, and has small, compact bunch or-mass of yarn is wound on the yarn receivers at the beginning of the Winding operation: I w I The object of the invention is to produce. with the requirements of the modern automatic fillingreplenishing looms and shall do this with a minimum wastage of the yarn; This and other objects and features of the inventionwill appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims. The broad principle of a spinning mule operating to build a bunch on the yarn receivers or bobbins at the beginning of the winding operation is disclosed in the patent to Rockwell and Randall, No. 1,692,866, granted November 2'7, 1928, and in View of the disclosure of that patent and the fact that the spinning mule itself in its various forms and its construction and operation are all familiar to those skilled'in the art, it' will be necessary hereto illustrate and describe theconstruction and operation of the mule'only so far as it is di rectly concerned with the present invention.

In the particular embodiment of the broad invention disclosed and claimed in the Rockwell and Randall patent, the winding faller during the winding movements of the carriage was constant- I 1y controlled by the builder rail to effect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers and the builder rail was shifted in position for a predetermined period so as to retard the traverse movement of the faller and thus effect the forma-' I tion of the bunch. In the present invention the retarding of the traverse and the consequent formation of the bunch on the yarn receivers or bobbins is secured by suspending thecontrol of the movement of the faller by the builder rail or by locking the faller against movement with respect to the carriage at the beginning. of the winding operation and during a predetermined succeedingnumber of winding movements of the carriage. Consequently as the faller during this period -is no longer under control of the builder rail, it has no movement and. a small, compact bunch results. It is quite important that the bunch shall be as'small and compact as possible not only to prevent wastage of the yarn but in order to ensure accuracy of cooperation with the modern feeler mechanisms employed in weft replenishing looms. The improved principle of operation embodied in this invention enables this to'be accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner.

The drawings illustrate a simple and preferred form of the invention as adaptedto a so-called woolen mule, but it will be obvious that the principles of the invention are equally applicable to Worsted mules, cotton mules and mules for spinning any of the other fibres commonly spun on a mule.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a spinning mule with the carriage near the end of its inward movement and with the preferred form of thepresent invention shown in connection therewith. It will be understood that only those features of the mule necessary to explain the operation of the present invention are illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1 showing on a larger scale and in detail the spring-pressed'bolt and pawl and ratchet mechanism for operating it shown in Fig. 1. i I

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the construction illustrated there is shown the usual carriage I having the yarn receivers or filling carriers, one of which is shown as a bobbin 2 rotatably mounted thereon as by means of the spindle 3. The carriage is mounted in the usual way to move back and forth toward and from the rear frame of the machine; The yarn 4 runs from the draft rolls 5 on the frame of the machine over the tension faller wire 6 carried by the tension faller l thence under the winding faller-wire 8 carried by the winding faller 9 to the bobbin. Each bobbin spindle 3 is provided with a whirl H] driven in the usual manner and by any suitable means.

In the usual operation of such a spinning mule,

the carriage moves forward with the spindles rotating in one direction or the other and during this forward movement the draft of the yarn takes place and the main portion of the twist is put inthe yarn. When the carriage reaches its front position, the spindles are usually speeded up to puta further twist in the yarn, the carriage recedes as the yarn shortens with the twist, the spindles are then reversed to unwind theyarn on the tip of the spindle, and then the carriage moves back toeffect the winding of the yarn thus spun on the bobbins, the spindles rotating in the proper direction for this purpose.

The present invention is concerned entirely with the winding operation or the winding movements of the carriage, that is, the movements from front to rear position.

The usual mechanism for elfecting the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers during the winding movement of the carriage is illustrated and needs no extended description. Beneath the carriage and extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage is mounted the builder rail I I, the ends of which are controlled by sliding shoes, of which the rear one I2 is shown. These shoes are moved longitudinally step by step through the connection I3 with the usual mechanism so as to lower the builder rail at each winding movement of the carriage. The carriage has mounted thereon a builder arm or lever for cooperating with the builder rail. In the usual form this element comprises an arm I4 movably connected at the rear of the carriage, having at its forward end a guide arm I5 sliding in a vertical guideway formed by a guide block I6 bolted at I! to the front of the carriage I. At its extreme forward end the builder arm is provided with a laterally extending projection or square stud IS. A roller I 9 journalled near the forward end of the builder arm I normally rides upon the builder rail I I.

The winding faller 9 is shown as of the usual construction secured to a transverse shaft 2!] and this shaft is provided with a curved arm 2| pivotally connected at 22 to the usual faller leg comprising the two sections 23 and 24 adjustably connected at 25.

In the usual operation it will be seen that the vertical movement of the faller leg operates to rock the winding faller 9 and consequently to give the required traverse of the yarn as it is wound on the bobbin 2 during the winding movement. This vertical movement of the faller leg as usual is secured from the builder arm and the movement of the builder arm in turn is controlled by the builder rail. The faller leg is yieldingly held downward by the usual spring 26 extending from some fixed portion of the carriage up and around and to the shaft and the faller leg is also yieldingly drawn rearwardly at its lower end by the usual connecting rod 21 pivoted thereto at 28 extending rearward and drawn rearward by a spring connection to the carriage diagrammatically indicated at 29.

In the usual operation of the mule, each time the carriage has its Winding movement, that is, from its front position to its rear position, one draw of yarn of about six feet in length is laid in a single traverse upon each yarn receiver. When, as is the case in connection with the present invention, the bobbins are wound with a filling or weft wind such as is employed in bobbins to be used in carrying the filling for weaving cloth, these traverses of yarn are laid in successive superposed conical layers beginning at the bottom or base of the bobbin. As well understood in the art and as further explained in the aforementioned patent, the faller leg rests upon the stud I8 at the forward end of the builder arm I4 and the roller I 9 rests upon the top of the builder rail during the usual winding movements of the carriage. The builder rail is higher at the forward end than at the reraward end and, through the usual mechanism including the shoes I2, the builder rail is lowered slightly at each movement of the carriage. As a result the bobbins are wound with the successive superposed conical layers beginning at the base.

In the present invention a small, compact bunch of yarn is wound on the bobbins at the base and prior to the beginning of the regular traverses and this is done by suspending the control of the movement of the faller from the builder rail so that as the winding movement of the carriage takes place for a predetermined successive number of times, there is no movement of the faller and consequently the yarn is wound on the bobbin without any traverse and is formed into a very compact mass and without being spread lengthwise of the bobbin more than is necessary to hold the yarn of the bunch in place.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated two features are added to the usual mechanism of the mule. First, it will be remembered that the faller leg heretofore has been provided with a shoulder 30 adapted to rest upon the square lug III. In this invention in addition the faller leg is provided with a lug 3I extending beneath this shoulder 30 so as to form therebetween in the faller leg a notch or recess into which the projection or square lug I8 loosely fits and this lug 3! extends rearward somewhat less than the shoulder 38 so that as the faller leg moves up against the stud IS the stud will readily slide into this notch or recess. Second, a spring-pressed bolt and pawl and ratchet mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are mounted on the front of the carriage.

Before describing the details of the specific mechanism here illustrated as added to the usual spinning mule for effecting the purposes of this invention, it should be remembered that in the ordinary operation of the spinning mule the following things take place. At the conclusion of each forward movement of the carriage during which the drawing and twisting or spinning operation takes place, the faller leg is in its lower position with the shoulder 30 beneath the stud I8 and with the stud I 8 in the rear of the rear edge of the faller leg so that the builder rail and builder arm are not controlling the faller. At the conclusion of each such forward movement of the carriage, the faller leg is given a vertical upward movement by the usual mechanism of the mule unnecessary here to illustrate and describe because well known and familiar. When this upward movement of the faller leg takes place, the shoulder 30 snaps over and rests upon the stud I 8 and as the winding movement takes place, the faller is therefore under the control of the builder arm and builder rail. Another feature to be remembered is that when the yarn receivers have been filled with yarn and the doffing is to take place, the faller leg is given an extended upward, vertical movement usually by hand and the faller leg is held locked in the uppermost position until the filled yarn receivers have been defied and empty yarn receivers replaced on the spindles. When the empty yarn receivers have been placed on the spindles, the carriage is then retracted, the yarn connected to the yarn receivers and the series of operations proceeds in the usual manner.

. In the present embodiment of the invention a bracket 32 is bolted to the carriage I alongside the guide block It, as shown in Fig. 1. In this bracket 52 is mounted to slide forward and rear- Ward a bolt 33 so arranged that when in its projected position it can extend beneath the square stud IS on the forward end I5 of the builder arm I4 .and alongside the faller leg. This bolt 33 l In this pawl and ratchet mechanism, each time 2,008,089 is projected forward by a' coiled spring 34 con nected at its forward'end' tothe bracket32 and at its rear end to a stud 35 projecting upward from the bolt. The retraction of the bolt is se cured bya pawl and ratchet mechanism.

The bolt 33 is shown as provided on its under surface with teeth 36 forminga rack; This rack engages the teeth of a pinion'31 secured to the transverse shaft 38. ratchet wheel39 A pawl actuator 40 shown as a long arm having a laterally ofiset end is pivotally mounted on the end of the shaft 38 and ator 4t downward. The downward movement of the actuator and consequently the retracting movement of the feed pawl is adjustably limited by theset screw'flfi threaded into thearm of the bracket and against the upper end of which the actuator 43 isstopped. A detentpawl 41 pivoted to the bracket 32 at 48 is yieldingly held in engagement with theteeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 49 connected at one end to the detent pawl and at the other end to a stud 50 on the end of the shaft 38. A stop finger 5| is adjustably secured by a setscrew 52 to a shaft 53, which shaft is adjustably secured by the set screw 54 in the bearing socket 55 on theupper end of an upwardly projecting portion 56 of the bracket 32.

the actuator 40 is raised from theset screw 46, it givesa retracting movement to the bolt 33 and when thebolt is'entirely retracted the feed pawl willsimply slide back andforth on an untoothed portion of the ratchet wheel 39. In order torelease the bolt 33 after it has been retracted and allow it to be projected forward, utilization is here made of an extended movement of the actuator M). For this purpose the feed pawl is provided with a forwardand upward projecting tail 5'! and the finger 5| is adjusted into the path of this tail and in the required relation thereto. If now the actuator All has an extended or abnormal upward movement, the tail 5'! of thefeed pawl 43 will be brought into engagement with the finger 5! raising the feed pawl from the ratchet wheel and a slight further movement will bring the nose of the feed pawl beneath the nose of the detent pawl and raise the detent pawl from engagement with the ratchet when; This releases the bolt and it is at once projected forward by the spring 35.

The mechanism which has thus been described in detail is so proportioned and located that, as already pointed out, the bolt 33 in its projected position stands beneath the stud l8 and alongside of the faller leg and the actuator 40 extends above a convenient lateral projection from the fallerlegsuch as the pivot stud 28. As has alfaller leg is given an extended upward movement.

' herein illustrated will now be apparent.

On theshaft38 is secured a that is herein utilized to give theextended or abnormal movement to the actuator 40.

TheQoperatio'n of the particular mechanism When the bobbins have been filled and a new series of operations is to be started, the carriage i is in its forward position. At this time the bolt 33 is in its retracted position and the taller leg is pressed rearward by the spring 29 against the stud l8. 7 The fallers are then pressed downward and the faller leg given the extended upward movement referred to and the parts are locked in this position by a usual catch or other means. As the faller leg rises, the notch formed between the shoulder 30 and the lug 3i in the faller leg snaps over the stud l8 on the forward end of the builder arm and. as the fall-er leg rises still further 'byreason of this extended upward move-v ment given to it, two things happen. First, the stud l8, and consequently the builder arm, is liftedby the lug 3| and the roller! 9 of the build-- er arm brought well clear of the builder. rail H, and, second, the stud 28 gives the abnormal or extended movement to the actuator 43 whichreleases the bolt 33 allowing the bolt to project beneath the stud l8 and consequently lock. the builder arm against movement withrespect to the carriage and suspend the builder arm from the control of the builder rail.

It isthis upward movement of the taller leg The usual operation of the mule now pro;

ceeds. At the beginning of'each successive wind-' ing movement of the carriage, the notch in the faller leg snaps onto the stud of the builder arm but at the same time movement is given to the pawl actuator All and the bolt is partially retracted. Consequently until the bolt is entirely retracted, the builder arm, faller leg and taller are held in substantially fixed position and out of the control of the builder rail during each winding movement. The adjustments provided particularly in the adjustment of the set screw 36 which limits the throw of the 'actuatorenable it readily to predetermine the number of winding movements which shall take place with the control of the builder arm by the builder rail thus suspended and thus the amount of yarn in the bunch. ,3

It will thus be seen that during the successive winding movements required for building ;the bunch on the yarn receivers, no. vertical move ment or traverse is imparted to the winding faller and consequently the yarn of the bunch is all wound on each yarn receiver in a narrow, compact mass.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Let. ters Patent, is: l

l. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, afaller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during. the winding -move-1 ment, and means actuated by the movement of the faller to doflfing position to lock the faller against movement with respect to the carriage and thereafter actuated at the beginning. of'each of a predetermined number of successivewinding movements of the carriage to lock the taller against movement with respect to the carriage during the winding movement thereby to'build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

. 2. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receiver's rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a ialler on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a builder, rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, falleroperating means on the carriage, the movement of which is controlled bythe builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage to eifect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, and means automatically rendered operative when the fall-er is moved to doffing position and acting thereupon to suspend the control of the taller-operating means from the builder rail during a predetermined number of the winding movements of the carriage thereby to build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

3. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to Wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, afaller on the carriage movable to efiect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding move ment, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the Winding movements of the carriage, a separable connection between the faller and builder arm, means for connecting the faller and builder arm by said separable connection during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to efiect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, and means automatically rendered operative when the taller is moved to dofiing position and acting thereupon to suspend the control of the movement of the builder arm by the builder rail during a predetermined number of the winding movements of the carriage thereby to build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

4. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a faller leg connected to and having a vertical movement for operating the faller and having an upward movement prior to the beginning of each winding movement of the carriage and an extended upward movement prior to the first of said upward movements, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage, a separable interlocking connection between the faller leg and builder arm, means for connecting the faller leg and builder arm by said separable connection prior to and during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to effect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, and means on the carriage operated by the extended upward movement of the faller leg to hold the builder arm raised from the builder rail and operated by a predetermined number of succeeding upward movements of the faller leg to release the builder arm to the control of the builder rail whereby until so released the control of the builder arm by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage is suspended thereby to build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

5. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a faller leg connected to and having a vertical movement for operating the taller and having an upward movement prior to the beginning of each winding movement of the carriage and an extended upward movement prior to the first of said upward movements, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage, av separable interlocking connection between the faller leg and builder arm, means for connecting the faller leg and builder arm by said separable connection prior to and during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to efiect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, a spring-projected bolt on the carriage, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for retracting the bolt, and an actuator for the pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by the extended upward movement of the faller leg to release the bolt allowing it to project beneath and hold the builder arm raised from the builder rail and operated by a predetermined number of succeeding upward movements of the faller leg to efiect the retraction of the bolt from beneath the builder arm and thus release the builder arm to the control of the builder rail whereby until so released the control of the builder arm by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage is suspended thereby to build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

6. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage, means for operating the faller from the builder arm during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to efiect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, and means automatically rendered operative when the faller is moved to dofiing position andacting thereupon to suspend the movement of the builder arm from the builder rail during a predetermined number of the winding movements of the carriage thereby to build a bunch on the yarn receivers.

7. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to efiect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriaga means for operating the taller from the builder arm during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to effect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and means acting to operate said pawl and ratchet mechanism prior to the beginning of the first winding movement to suspend the movement of the builder arm by the builder rail and acting to operate said mechanism upon a predetermined number of winding movements of the carriage to restore the control of the movement of the builder arm to the builder rail.

8. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a taller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a faller leg connected to and having a vertical movement for operating the faller, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage during the winding movements of the carriage to efiect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, the said faller leg and builder arm having a cooperating lug and recess acting to secure the operation of the faller leg from the builder arm and also acting to raise the builder arm by the faller leg when the faller leg is raised prior to doffing.

9; A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to effect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a faller leg connected to and having avertical movement for operating the taller, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage during the winding movements of the carriage to effect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, the said builder arm having a transversely extending projection and the said faller leg having a notch facing the said projection, the said projection and recess acting to secure the operation of the taller leg from the builder arm and also acting to raise the builder arm by the faller leg when the faller leg is raised prior to doffing. V

10. A spinning mule comprising a carriage having yarn receivers rotatably mounted thereon and movable forward during spinning and rearward to wind the yarn on the yarn receivers, a faller on the carriage movable to efiect the required traverse of the yarn during the winding movement, a builder rail extending longitudinally of the path of movement of the carriage, a builder arm on the carriage moved with respect to the carriage by the builder rail during the winding movements of the carriage, means for operating the taller from the builder arm during the winding movements of the carriage thereby to effect the required traverse of the yarn on the yarn receivers, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and means acting to operate said pawl and ratchet mecha nism prior to the beginning of the first winding movement to suspend the movement of the faller by the builder rail and acting to operate said mechanism upon a predetermined number of winding movements of the carriage to restore the control of the a movement of the faller to the builder rail.

JOSEPH W. RANDALL. 

